Just a few thoughts after a long night spent pouring over gamers out of our MIAA, KCAC and Jayhawk schools.
MIAA
Biggest surprise, by far, was Fort Hays State pulling off the upset over No. 18 Washburn in Hays. You had to think the Tigers would be up, and feeling underestimated after basically giving away the game with turnovers and penalties in a loss to Colorado Mines last week. Jacob Irvin ran wild for Fort Hays with 157 yards rushing.
And it begs the question, were the Ichabods too cocky coming off a win over FCS opponent Missouri State ? Fort Hays came to play, and walked away with the win.
No. 7 PIttsburg State pulled another rabbit out of the hat, compliments of quarterback Mark Smith, with a 21-14 win over Missouri Southern in Pittsburg. Kinda got chills thinking about Smith getting the ball back with two minutes to play and the score tied 14-14 in front of an overflow crowd at Carney Smith Stadium.
Wowza. And then the kid drives 60 yards to paydirt, hitting Marques Nelson for a two-yard touchdown run.
Chills, people.
Otherwise, No. 5 Nebraska-Omaha made a nice MIAA debut by taking down Emporia State 41-20 in Omaha.
KCAC
Finally. The KCAC begins. I felt like I was waiting for another Batman movie to come out after awhile.
Were they ever going to play?
They did, and No. 11 Friends looked sharp in a 33-7 victory at Sterling’s souped-up new digs. Biggest shocker out of this game was Falcons’ quarterback Alex Melugin going 19-for-28 passing for
258 yards and four touchdowns.
Who dey? Who dat? Friends don’t throw! Weird to even see those kind of numbers. Nobody, of course, ever accused Monty Lewis of not thinking outside of the box. And their defense looked good, too. Watch out if they’ve got a passing game because you know they’ve got the hogs up front.
2006 KCAC offensive player of the year Beau Cox made a nice return to action with 104 yards rushing and 49 yards receiving in No. 17 Bethel’s 17-6 win over Kansas Wesleyan at North Newton. Good for him after missing last season with injuries. I think KWU is going to be tough this year and beat some people.
Mcpherson looks like it has solved its QB conundrum in the form of juco transfer Shane Mascarenas — Mascarenas threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns in the Bulldogs 37-21 win over Bethany, an , as promised, McPherson coach Brian Ward got the ball in the hands of all-KCAC return specialist Gary Cox, who had seven catches for 94 yards and still busted out 54 kick return yards. Dude is lightning in a bottle. Can’t wait to see him play.
Jayhawk
Ho-hum here, for everybody. No. 6 Butler spanked Dodge City, 48-0. No. 14 Garden City beat Air Force Prep 30-7. No. 12 Fort Scott shut out Coffeyville, 15-0. I hate to be negative, but does that mean, with Garden and Butler already having squared off, that all we have to look forward to is Fort Scott-Garden City and Fort Scott-Butler. I hope not, and I’m waiting for somebody to separate themselves as the fourth team.
Lots of fun stuff. See you soon.
-TA